CBA grapplers defeat Fike, Greene Central

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 29, 2012 1:49 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Thrown to the wolves a year ago, Charles B. Aycock's upper weights showed their maturity and displayed their experience against Wilson Fike on Wednesday evening.

Jaquan Walker's major decision at 160 pounds fueled a match-ending 31-5 run and the Golden Falcons handed the Golden Demons a 49-20 defeat. Earlier in the non-conference tri-meet, Aycock launched the home portion of its schedule with a 72-12 thrashing of Greene Central, which was wrestling its season-opening match.

A second-year starter, Walker owned a slim three-point lead over Marco Escamilla after two periods. The Aycock senior earned a penalty point on a technical violation, executed a reverse and almost pinned Escamilla midway through the final period.

Escamilla fought off his back, but Walker prevailed 13-0.

"Last year, we threw him out on (the mat against) a lot of quality wrestlers and I had said that he was making deposits that would pay dividends next year, and it's next year now," CBA head coach Marc Peck said. "He's been steady. He looked real sharp (tonight), wrestled crisp and managed his matches well against a couple of pretty good opponents."

Returning state qualifier Khaleil Owens followed with a tense-filled, 4-1 decision over the Golden Demons' Alcindor Winstead at 170 pounds. Owens remained perfect in seven outings this season.

Senior 182-pounder Broc Doyle and junior 195-pounder Ryan Morton each followed with back-to-back, first-period pins. Morton's victory sealed the outcome for Aycock, which extended its win streak to six after a season-opening loss to Topsail.

Heavyweight Jorge Flores, who yielded a combined 80-plus to two competitors on the night, improved to 7-0 with a third-period fall over Fike's Hunter Massey.

"That took the air out of Fike," Peck said of the late-match run. "Those upper weights have been a challenge for us in the past, but tonight, it was a stronghold for us. Those guys really came through and that turned the tide."

Sophomore Zack Howard (7-0) capped the night with a third-period fall over the Golden Demons' Brian Weaver at 106 pounds.

Fike (3-3 overall) stayed within striking distance before Walker's match-turning result. Aycock led 12-9 on Tanner Stevens' forfeit and Jordan Bailey's second-period fall.

Seniors Daniel Romo (7-0) and Charlie Mills gave the Golden Falcons a little breathing room with back-to-back decisions before the Golden Demons pulled within 18-15 on John Taylor's second-period pin at 152 pounds.

"They've got a great crop of athletes at Fike," Peck said. "We anticipated them being a little better than last year, but they're still young and they'll be even better next year.

"We knew they wouldn't be a pushover and would give us some quality reps."

Aycock triumphed in nine of 10 contested matches against Greene Central, and took 12 overall. Flores, Howard, 113-pounder Jacob Dickenson, Romo, Edmonds, Walker, Owens, Morton and Andrew Taylor each posted a pin.